Support for electric irons



Nov. 10, 1953 H. w. wlLsoN SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC IRoNs 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed DBC. 23, 1947 26] JNVENTOR.

Herber I/V. Wilson ,2V

Fig. z

ATTORNEY.

N0V- 10, 1953 vH. w. wlLsoN' SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC IRONS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed DeC. 23, 1947 AWN...-

, JNVENToR. Herberl W Wilson ATTRNEY.

Nov. 10, 1953 H. w. wlLsoN 2,658,292

SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC IRONSk Filed DeC. 23, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 U (u INVENTOR.

2s f Hefberi W Wilson ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 2,658,292 SUPPORT ron ELEc'rnrc indus Herbert W. Wilson. North Canton, h10, assignorr to The Hoover Company, 'North Canton, Ohio.

a corporation of Chio Application December 23, 1947, 'Serial No. 793,433

22 Claims.

This invention relates to vsmoothing or press-i ing irons and more particularly to means Igor supporting an iron on a supporting surface in such manner that no hot parts of the sole plate can come into contact with the supporting sur face whereby textile material whether it be the ironing board cover or the material being pressed will not be scorched or burned.

Specifically according to this invention the iron is provided with an air cooled extension at its rear end extending rearwardly of the sole plate proper and with retractable supporting mean at its front end. Operable from the manipulating handle ol' the iron into extended supporting position so that the iron may be supported in an inclined position on the rearward extension and the forward supporting means.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken ln connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side plan view of one modification of the invention partly in section to better show the details of the support;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the modiiication of Fig. 1 through the front leg of the manipulating handle;

Figure 3 is a side plan view of a second modiflcation of the invention partly in section to show the details of the support;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the modilication of Fig. 3 through the front leg of the manipulating handle;

Figure 5 is a side plan view of a third modiiication of the invention partly in. Section to better show the details of the support;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the modication of Fig. 5 through the front leg oi the handle; and

Figure '7 is a detail view showing the rearward extending supporting extension for the iron which is common to all three modications.

All of the modicatons are claimed generically in this application and the modifications of Figs, 5 and 6 is claimed specifically, while the two modifications of Figs. 1 to 4. inclusive, are claimed specifically in my divisional applicaton Serial No. 267,823, liled January 23, 19.52. l

Referring to the drawings the iron proper is the same for all modiiications and where the parts are the same they have been given the Same reference characters. The reference character I0 represents the sole plate with a resistance heater II embedded therein. Secured to the sole Plate by studs l2 (one Shown in Fig. 5) and screws I3 is a heat disslpating cover -shell vI4 which is spaced from a peripheral 4shoulder I5 of the sole plate I0.

A manipulating handle I6 `which maybe made of hard rubber, a phenolic condensation product or other heat resisting insulating material, vis secured to the cover shell I4 in any suitable manner such `as by screws I1 threaded into inserts I8 embedded 'in the material of the handle. The handle I6 has a front leg I9, a rear leg 20, a hand grip portion 2I and a thumb rest 22. A control knob 23 for adjusting a thermostatic control (not shown) for the heater I I is rotatably mounted on the cover shell I4 between the front and rear legs I3 and 20 of the handle I6. .In each modiiication the front leg I3 of the handle I5 has a hollowed out recess as shown at 28.

As shown in Figure 'l the cover shell 'I4 is extended rearwardly Irom the sole plate I0 and a l supporting extension24 abutting against the rea),-

of the sole plate I0 is attached thereto such as by the screw 25. The supporting extension 24 has two rearwardly and downwardly ,extending portions 26 having ,air circulating holes 21 therein to maintain the suDDOrting extension 24 at a lower temperature than that of the sole plate I0.

Referring to Figs, 1 and 2, a bracket 30 is fastened to the underside of the cover shell i4 and has a pair` of downward extending ears 3| rotatably supporting a pair of supporting legs 32 each having a pintle 33 and an angular extension leg 34, The ends of the pintles 33 are hollowed out and are connected by a splined or vsquare shaft 35 slidably and non-rotatably positioned in the hollowed out ends of the pntles 33,

The pintles 33 are spring-biased toward each other by springs 36 abutting at one end against the ears 3l and at the other end against the shoulders 31 on the ends of the pintles 33,

Attached to the inner side of the shoulders 3l are cam engaging members 38 which cooperate with a pair of downwardly and outwardly 'inclined cam members 33 attached at their upper ends to the lower face o1 the bracket 30. At their lower ends the cam members 39 have stop shoulders 40 which limit the rotary movement oi the cam engaging members 38 as will later appear.

Rigidly attached centrally of the sha-ft 35 is a pinion gear 4I which cooperates with rack teeth 42 on the lower end of a reciprocating plunger 43 extending upwardly through the recess 2l in the front handle leg I 3 and through an opening 44 extending through the top ot the handle I6. The plunger 43 is guided for vertical reciprocation by its enlarged end 45 fitting in the opening 44 and a bracket 46 attached to the top of the cover shell I4. 'I'he plunger 43 is normally biased to upper position by a spring 41 positioned between the enlarged end 45 and the bracket 46. A shoulder 48 on the plunger 43 engages the bracket 46 to limit its upward movement.

Operation of Figures 1 and 2 The spring 41 normally holds the plunger 43 in its upward position with the upper end 45 projecting above the handle I6. In this position the shoulder 48 abuts against the lower side of the bracket 48 and the legs 34 lie horizontally closely against the sides of the cover shell I4.

When it is desired to support the iron in an inclined position as shown in the drawings the front of the iron is raised slightly and the upper end 45 of the plunger 43 is pressed downwardly. The teeth 42 on the lower end of plunger 43 will rotate the gea-r 4I clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 which will also rotate the shaft 35 and the pintles 33 clockwise. The cam engaging members 38 ride over the cams 39 whereby the pintles 33 will be moved outwardly against the bias of springs 36 as they are rotated until the cam engaging members 38 contact the stops 40 to position the legs 34 in the position shown in Figs. l and 2. The iron is then lowered so that the ends of the legs 34 engage the supporting surface. The weight of the iron will then hold the legs 34 in supporting position and the iron will be supported in an inclined position, as shown, by the ends of the leg 34 and the rear ends of the downward extensions 26.

To move the legs 34 back to retracted position it is only necessary to tip the iron backwardly and the springs 41 and 36 will return the legs to retracted position so as to lie closely against the cover shell I4.

As in the modification of Figs. 1 and 2 the modification of Figs. 3 and 4 has supporting legs 32 comprising angular extensions 34 and pintles 33 rotatably mounted in the ears 3| of bracket 30 and spring-biased inwardly by the springs 36 acting between the ears 3l and the shoulders 31. Also the pintles are connected by the shaft 35 slidably and non-rotatably received in the recesses in the ends of the pintles 33.

Non-rotatably attached to the central portion of the shaft 35 are a pair of crank arms 58 having slots I in their outer ends which cooperate with a pin or bolt 52 passing through an opening in the lower end of an actuating link 53. At its upper end the link 53 carries a pin or bolt 54 passing through a slot 55 in the arm 56 of an actuating lever 51 pivotally mounted in the recess 28 at 58. The lever 51 is spring-biased clockwise by a spring 59 and extends through a slot 60 through the front of front leg I9. At its lower end the slot 60 has an offset 6I for a purpose which will be described hereinafter.

Intermediate its ends the link 53 carries a pair of wedges 62 projecting from either side thereof. The wedges 62 cooperate with a pair of rollers 63 carried by the upper end of crossed links 64 pivoted intermediate their ends, at 65 where they cross each other, by a bracket 66 extending upwardly from the cover shell I4. At their lower ends the crossed links 64 carry rollers 61 which coact with the outer ends of shoulders 31 on pintles 33 in a. manner which will presently appear.

Operation of Figures 3 and 4 The angular extensions 34 of legs 32 normally lie closely against the cover shell I4 in the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 3. When it is desired to support the iron its front end is raised slightly and the lever 51 moved forwardly against the bias of spring 58. During the first part of the movement of the lever 51 the actuating link 53 will be moved downwardly to cause the wedges 62 to engage the rollers 63 and move the upper ends of crossed links 64 apart. This will cause vthe lower ends of the crossed links 64 to move apart whereby the rollers 61 will engage the shoulders 31 on the ends of pintles 33 and move the legs 32 outwardly against the bias of springs 36 so that the angular extensions 34 will clear the sides of the sole plate I8. At the same time the lower end of the actuating link 53 will rotate the crank arms 50 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3. This will rotate the shaft 35 and correspondingly the pintles 33 and move the angular extensions 34 of the legs 32 to the position shown in Fig. 4. The lever 51 is then moved into the offset 6I of the slot 68 whereby the legs 32 are locked in supporting position. The lower ends of the angular extensions 34 and the downwardly extending lugs 26 will then support the iron in an inclined position as shown.

To release the legs 32 for movement to retracted position it is merely necessary to move `the lever 51 from recess 6I and the legs will be returned to retracted position under the combined action of the springs 58 and 36.

In the modification of Figs. 5 and 6 a supporting leg 18 is pivotally mounted by pin 18 on a bracket 1I extending downwardly from the cover shell I4. The leg 10 is normally biased to supporting position by a spring 12 and is latched in retracted position by a latch 13 having a notch 14 cooperating with the rounded end 15 of the leg 10. The latch 13 is spring pressed to latching position by a leaf spring 16 supported from a lug 11 struck from the bracket 1I. An operating lever 18 is also pivoted on the pin 19 and extends upwardly through the recess 28 in the front leg I9 and through a slot 80 in the top of the handle I6. A spring 83 surrounds a lug extending forwardly from the lever 16 and normally holds the lever 18 rearwardly as shown in Fig. 5. The lever 18 carries a pin 8| which cooperates with the latch 13 in a manner which will presently appear.

Operation of Figures 5 and 6 The leg 10 is normally held in retracted posii Ation by the latch 13. When it is desired to move the supporting leg 18 to supporting position the front of the iron is raised and the upper end of the lever 18 moved forwardly against the bias of spring 83. The pin 8l of the lever 18 will engage the end of the latch 13 so as to release the rounded end 15 of the leg 10 from the notch 14 whereby the spring 1'2 will move the leg 10 clockwise against a stop 82 carried by the bracket 1I so as to position the leg in supporting position. The extensions 26 and the lower end of the leg 10 will then form a three point support for supporting the iron in an inclined position. When the lever 18 is released, it will return to its original position under the bias of spring 83 and permit the spring 16 to return the latch 13 to its original position.

To move the supporting leg 18 to retracted position it is only necessary to press forwardly and downwardly on the front of the iron so that the leg 'I0 will be moved counter-clockwise until `shell and not in heat exchange relationship with the sole plate so that they will .be comparatively cool at all times. Additionally the air cooled rearwardly extending support is also vcompara-- tively cool thus assuring that the ironing board cover or material being pressed will not be scorched or burned when the iron is supported in its inclined position.

Also according to each modiilcation the snpporting legs are moved to their final retracted position by spring action,

According to the modification of Figs. l and 2 the supporting legs are held in extended position by the weight of lthe iron against the bias of the retracting springs,

According to the modification of Figs. 3 land 4 the supporting legs are held in their extended position by latching the operating lever in its forward operative position.

According to the modification of Fig. 5 the leg is moved to its extended position by spring action upon release of the latching means, is partially returned to retracted position by downward and forward movement of the front of the iron and is moved to its final retracted position by the spring action of the latching mechanism.

While I have shown but vthree modications of my invention it is to be understood that these modifications are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do n-ot wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations thereof except as limited by the scope oi the claims.

I claim:

1. A smoothing iron comprising, a sole plate, a cover shell secured to said sole plate and extending rearwardly therefrom, an air cooled supporting extension secured underneath the rear extension of said cover shell, a manipulating hanle having a front supporting post secured to said cover shell, a bracket secured to the under surface of said cover shell beneath said handle adjacent the front of said cover shell and supporting means movably secured to said bracket, said supporting means having a portion extensible to lie below the lower face of said sole plate adjacent its front end and means normally maintaining said portion above the lower face of said sole plate, said extensible portion in its extended position being positioned below the lower face of said sole plate a distance such that when said portion is extended the iron may be supported in inclined position on a supporting surface by said portion and by said supporting extension with the sole plate free of the supporting surface.

2. An electric smoothing iron comprising, a sole plate, a cover shell secured to said sole plate, said cover plate extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of said sole plate, a supporting member secured beneath the rearward extension of said cover shell, said supporting member comprising a pair of downwardly and rearwardly extending support engaging elements having their lower edges positioned slightly above the plane of the lower Surface Of Said sole plate, each of said elements having apertures therein for the circulation of air therethrough for maintaining them at. o. temperature below that of said sole plate. and retractable supporting means movably secured to the front end of said iron so as to be extensible to support the front end of said sole plate above a supporting surface at such a heighth that said iron may be supported in. an inclined position on said extensible supporting means and said support engaging elements with all portions of said sole plate free of the supporting' surface.

3. A smoothing iron comprising, a sole plate, a rear support for said iron including a cover shell secured to. said sole plate and extending rearwardly thereof and a support engaging member secured underneath the rearward extension of said cover shell rearwardly of said sole plate, said support engaging member comprising a plate engaging the under surface of the rearward extension of said cover shell and parallel side elements extending downwardly from said plate, the lower edges of said side elements lying slightly above the plane of the bottom surface of said sole plate, said side elements having openings extending laterally therethrough for the circulation of cooling air so as to maintain said side elements at a temperature below that of said sole plate.

4. A smoothing iron comprising, a sole plate, a cover shell secured to said sole plate, a manipulating handle secured to said cover shell, a bracket secured to and extending downwardly from said cover shell adjacent its forward end, said sole plate having an opening therethrough below said bracket, a supporting leg pivoted to said bracket so that its end is movable through said opening into an extended position below said sole plate, spring means for normally biasing said leg to its extended position, means carried by said bracket for latching said leg in its retracted position, and manually actuatable means operable from said manipulating handle for releasing said latching means to release said leg for movement to its extended position.

5. A smoothing iron according to claim 4 including spring means for biasing said latching means into latching position and said latching means and leg having cooperating cam surfaces which latch the end of said leg above the bottom face of said sole plate against the action of the rst mentioned spring means.

6. A smoothing iron comprising, a sole plate, a cover shell secured to said sole plate and extending beyond the rear end thereof, a handle secured to said cover shell and having a hollow front leg, said sole plate being formed with an opening therethrough below said hollow front leg, a supporting leg movably supported above said opening in a retracted position and movable through said opening to an extended position in which its end is positioned at a distance below the lower face of said sole plate such that when the iron is supported on said leg and the rearwardly extending end of said cover shell the lower surface of said sole plate will be free of the supporting surface, means for normally holding said supporting leg in its retracted position and manually actuatable means extending into the hollow front leg of said handle and coacting with said holding means for releasing said supporting leg for movement to its extended position.

7. A smoothing iron according to claim 6 including spring means coacting with said supporting leg for biasing it to its extended position.

8. A smoothing iron according to c laim 6 in which said holding means is spring-biased in such a manner as to raise and hold said supporting leg above the lower face of said sole plate.

9. A smoothing iron according to claim 6 in which said holding means is in the form of a latch including a spring for holding said latch in its holding position and coacting cam means on said latch and supporting leg so shaped that said spring will raise and hold said supporting leg above the bottom face of said sole plate.

10. A smoothing iron comprising, a sole plate, a cover shell secured to and overlying said sole plate and extending rearwardly therefrom. a handle secured to said cover shell, said handle having a hollow front leg, a xed support secured to the rearward extension of said cover shell and extending downwardly therefrom rearwardly of said sole plate, an extensible support movably carried by said cover shell beneath the hollow front leg of said handle, said support being extensible to extend below the lower face of said sole plate a distance such that when said extensible support is in its extended position the iron may be supported in an inclined position on a supporting surface by said fixed and extensible supports with said sole plate free of the supporting surface and means for moving said extensible support to its extended position including manually actuatable means extending from said extensible support upwardly through the hollow front leg of said handle and being accessible at the upper end thereof.

11. A smoothing iron comprising, a sole plate, a cover shell secured to said sole plate so as to form an enclosed space above said sole plate, an extension on said cover shell to the rear of said sole plate and forming a rigid support, a handle secured to said cover shell, said handle having a hollow front leg, an extensible support movably secured to said cover shell beneath the hollow front leg of said handle, said support being extensible to support the front end of said sole plate above a supporting surface at such a height that the iron may be supported in an inclined position on said rigid and extensible supports with all portions of said sole plate free of the supporting surface, means in the enclosed space beneath said cover shell for retaining said extensible support in its retracted position and manually actuatable means acting upon said retaining means to cause said extensible support to move to its extended position, said manually actuatable means extending upwardly through the hollow leg of said handle and being accessible from the top thereof.

12. A smoothing iron comprising, a sole plate, a cover shell secured to said sole plate and extending beyond the rear end thereof to form a fixed support, a handle secured to said cover shell and having a hollow front leg, said sole plate being formed with on opening therethrough below said hollow front leg, a supporting leg pivoted to said cover shell beneath said hollow front leg so as to be movable through said opening to an extended position such that the iron may be supported on a supporting surface by the end of said supporting leg and said fixed support with the lower face of said sole plate free of the supporting surface, a latch for holding said supporting leg in retracted position and manually actuatable means extending upwardly through said hollow front leg and actuatable from the top thereof for releasing said latch.

13. A smoothing iron according to claim 12 in Vwhich a spring is provided for biasing said latch to latching position and said latch and supporting leg are formed with coacting cam means so formed that said spring will raise and hold said supporting leg about the bottom face of said isole plate.

'14. A smoothing iron according to claim 13 in which said manually actuatable means is springbiased to return said latch to its raising and holding position when released.

15. A smoothing iron according to claim 12 in which said manually actuatable means is springbiased to return said latch to latching position when released.

16. A smoothing iron comprising, a sole plate having a toe and a heel at its opposite ends, a. rod-like heating element for said sole plate extending along the opposite sides thereof, a cover shell for said plate including wide based means rearward of said heel for supporting said heel above an ironing surface when the iron is tilted rearwardly thereonto, said plate having an opening therethrough forwardly of the center of gravity of said iron and spaced equi-distantly between the portions of said heating element to either side thereof so that said opening does not interfere with the distribution of heat to all portions of said sole plate, collapsible support means movably mounted in said iron, said support being normally concealed within said iron and being movable downwardly through said opening to a stable extended position wherein it cooperates with said wide based means rearward of said heel to support the iron in an inclined rest position with all portions of said sole plate out of contact with an ironing surface, means housed by said iron and operatively associated with said collapsible supporting means for normally holding the same retracted to a position above the lower surface of said sole plate, a handle secured to said cover shell having a cavity therein opening into the space enclosed by said cover shell, and manually operable means extending through said cavity to a point exteriorly of said handle conveniently accessible to the operator, said manual means being connected with said means for holding said collapsible support retracted and operable to release said holding means and permit said support to move downwardly to the extended position thereof.

17. A smoothing iron comprising, a sole plate having a toe and a heel at the opposite ends thereof, an elongated electric heating element extending along either side of said sole plate from the toe to the heel, a cover shell and a handle overlying and connected to said sole plate, supporting means for supporting said iron in an inclined rest position comprising a wide based stationary support rearward of said heel and positioned to hold said heel above the ironing surface when said iron is tilted rearwardly through a small angle thereonto, said sole plate having an opening forwardly of the center of gravity of said iron and spaced centrally between the portions of said heating element to either side thereof so that said opening does not interfere with the distribution of heat to any part of said sole plate, an extensible support movably mounted on said iron and normally concealed therewithin when retracted, said extensible support having an end movable downwardly through said opening to a stable extended position wherein it cooperates with said wide based stationary support in supporting said iron in an inclined position with said sole plate out of contact with an ironing surface, and manually operable control means for said movable support for controlling the movement thereof from said retracted position to said extended position, said handle including a hollow front supporting leg in communication with the interior of said cover shell and wherein said control means extends through said cavity to the exterior of said handle at a point adjacent the hand grip portion thereof.

18. A smoothing iron as defined in claim 17 in which said opening comprises an elongated slot extending lengthwise of said sole plate and wherein said movable support comprises a strut having one end pivotably supported adjacent one end of said slot so that the other end can pivot into and out of said slot.

19. A smoothing iron as defined in claim 18 including means normally biasing said strut to pivot downwardly through said slot to a position substantially normal to said sole plate, said control means being operatively associated with said strut and arranged to hold the same retracted above the lower surface of said sole plate in opposition to said biasing means.

20. A smoothing iron comprising, a sole plate having a toe and a heel at its opposite ends, a U- shaped electric heating element mounted in said plate with the bight at the toe and the legs along the opposite sides of said plate, a cover shell for said plate, a handle having a grip and at least one supporting leg connected to said shell, a stationary support member carried by said shell rearward of said heel for supporting the rear end of said iron when the same is tilted rearwardly through a small angle thereonto, collapsible support means at the forward end of said iron which cooperates with said stationary support in holding said iron in an inclined rest position when it is not in use, said collapsible support comprising strut means mounted within the body of said iron for movement in a vertical plane passing longitudinally through said sole plate and equidistantly between the legs of said heating element, said sole plate having an opening near the toe thereof through which said strut passes when moving to the extended, iron supporting position thereof, means for biasing said strut to said extended position, and releasable means for normally holding said strut retracted to its collapsed position wherein it is concealed within the iron.

21. A smoothing iron as defined in claim 20 wherein said handle leg has a cavity opening downwardly into the space enclosed by said cover shell and providing a housing for at least a portion of said releasable means for holding said movable strut retracted, said releasable means including a finger piece readily accessible to the operator from the exterior of said handle and conveniently located with respect to said handle grip. o

22. In combination, a smoothing iron sole plate having a toe and a heel at its opposite ends. a rod-like electric heating element for said sole plate extending along the opposite sides thereof from said heel to said toe and in good heat conducting relation to said sole plate, said sole plate having an opening therethrough toward the toe end and spaced substantially equi-distantly be.

tween the portions of said heating element at the opposite side of said sole plate, and collapsable means for supporting the toe of said sole plate above an ironing surface comprising a movable support member, means supporting said member for movement back and forth through the opening in said sole plate between a retracted position in which said sole plate is supported directly on an ironing surface and an extended position in which said member extends downwardly through said opening and into a position to support the toe of said sole plate above the ironing surface, and manually controllable means positioned above said sole plate and operatively connected with said movable support member for holding the same in the retracted position thereof when it is desired to use said sole plate for ironing purposes and in the extended position thereof when the sole plate is not being used.

HERBERT W. WILSON.

References Cited in the lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,072,217 Reed Mar. 2, 1937 2,185,915 Ginder Jan. 2, 1940 2,321,509 Olving June 8, 1943 2,422,505 Tangeman et al. June 17, 1947 2,501,549 Swenson Mar. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 615,794 Germany July 11, 1945 

